Promoting and Validating Nursing Excellence Around the World

Credentialing International was established in 1999 by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) in response to a wide range of requests for its services from other countries. It was recognized that an appropriate global outreach would require a broadened orientation and identity, international expertise, dedicated resources, and variable processes and procedures.

A combination of socioeconomic, political, and professional forces, such as globalization, deregulation, privatization, healthcare restructuring, and nursing shortages, have led to accelerating interest in mechanisms for promoting and validating the quality of nursing and health care around the world. Professional credentialing bodies, setting and administering standards for nurses and other healthcare professionals and for healthcare institutions and services, have been called upon to fulfill this universal need.

Credentialing International extends the experience and success of ANCC's research-based credentialing programs to nations dealing with similar environmental forces and needs. These programs include:

• Certification of specialists and advanced practice nurses.
• Accreditation of providers and approvers of programs of continuing education for nurses and other health professionals.
• Magnet Recognition Program^®.

Credentialing International provides such services independently or in cooperation with agencies in other countries and/or offers consultation to organizations in the development of programs of this nature.

ANCC also engages in activities contributing to the progress and promotion of credentialing programs and accordingly has established a separate Institute for Credentialing Innovation (The Institute).

Magnet Recognition of Nursing Services

Recurring nursing shortages and reports of a deteriorating work environment have led to studies of healthcare organizations to identify factors leading to better recruitment and retention of nurses and concomitantly to improved patient outcomes. These studies were initiated by the American Academy of Nursing in the early 1980s and continue to this day on an international scale.

The factors identified as the "forces of magnetism," have been incorporated within the Magnet Recognition Program^®, along with quality indicators. Though focused upon nursing as an essential service, findings demonstrate that the program leads to a cultural transformation within the institution, improves the standing and contributions of nurses, increases staff morale overall, reinforces collaborative working relationships among the professions, attracts high quality physicians and specialists, improves the reputation of the institution within the community, and raises patient quality outcomes. The program involves institutional self-study, documented improvements to meet core and magnet criteria, on-site appraisal, and periodic renewal. Fees are based upon the size of the institution and other factors.

Credentialing International offers the Magnet Recognition Program^® as a proven vehicle for organizations in other countries facing these same problems and seeking to achieve these same positive results in the recruitment and retention of nurses and improving health care. The program has been adapted by an international task force and the Commission on Magnet Recognition for universal application in other nations and in all types of healthcare facilities, ranging from acute and long term settings to community services. Through the ANCC Institute for Credentialing Innovation (The Institute), Credentialing International also provides fee-based consultation services to applicant institutions to advise on and support the organizational changes required to meet standards.

Certification of Specialists and Advanced Practice Nurses

For more than 26 years, ANCC (and its predecessor unit within the American Nurses Association) has been developing and using the most progressive methods for defining, assessing, and attesting to the competencies of nurses prepared in specialty areas and for advanced practice roles. Recently, modular certification of a multidisciplinary nature has been added to the offerings. Certification, subject to periodic renewal, is viewed as an important means for ensuring continued competency of nurses throughout their careers as the demands of healthcare systems increase with new health problems, treatments, and technologies. The program includes review of educational and experiential background and testing. The ANCC Institute for Credentialing Innovation provides review courses to nurses preparing for certification.

Through Credentialing International, certification, adapted to various healthcare environments, is made available to other countries and/or consultation on methods and processes is provided.

Accreditation of Providers and Approvers of Continuing Education

In today's healthcare environment, healthcare professionals' commitment to continued education contributes to higher standards of practice and to improved public welfare. Accreditation serves as a means whereby nurses and their employers can be assured of the quality and reliability of continuing education programs, and program providers can receive external validation of their offerings against universal standards. Transferability of credit is facilitated for those nurses seeking broader recognition of their educational accomplishments. The program requires adherence to standards, in-depth analysis, on-site visit, and periodic renewal. Fees are assessed based upon a number of factors.

Through Credentialing International, accreditation is offered to institutions or organizations responsible for the overall development, implementation, and evaluation of continuing education for nurses and other health professionals. Such accreditation attests to the quality of the education, within international standards, and the credits earned by those who have completed the programs. Through Credentialing International, accreditation is also available to approvers of continuing education, thereby delegating to other organizations, such as state or national nursing organizations, the right to accredit providers of continuing education according to designated standards.

Institute for Credentialing Innovation

Through Credentialing International, the services of the ANCC Institute for Credentialing Innovation (The Institute) are extended to other countries.

• Research continues on the effects of credentialing upon nurses, patients, healthcare settings, and other stakeholders.
• International conferences on credentialing are sponsored to encourage the exchange of information about credentialing standards and practices.
• Consultation is provided to agencies and organizations seeking to develop or improve credentialing programs for nurses or other health professionals, for educational programs, and for health services.

Modes of Cooperation

While universal standards are desirable and feasible, credentialing methods are best adapted to the culture and norms of national and local environments. Credentialing International seeks and welcomes opportunities to work with organizations to provide single or multiple credentialing services in other countries. Possible modes for cooperation and collaboration include joint ventures, licensing, and other contractual relationships.

To learn more about Credentialing International and its programs and services, please refer to the contact information provided below: